Now the summer is at an end I've decided its time to get outdoors and test some GPS units! Kicking off the test we have Globalsat's GH-625 and Garmin's Forerunner 405 GPS watches.

Although both are targetted at similar markets they are very different in their implementation with Garmin eschewing a detailed display in favour of a relatively compact sports watch that could pass for a 'normal' watch. Despite its small size it still manages to squeeze in full datalogging, comprehensive training records and track pace functions etc.

Garmin Forerunner 405

Globalsat on the other hand have chosen to go the whole hog and offer features that would have until recently only been available on a handheld device such as a detailed display with trail mapping functions, full GoTo Waypoint functionality, datalogging, POI capturing and even a GPS mouse function. The downside is a watch that is fairly substantial in size although still wearable.

Globalsat GH-625

We'll be putting both through their paces including tests of the desktop software supplied by each manufacturer but in the meantime please post any questions in this thread.

Are these aimed at sports people, or can they be used for day to day datalogging for say Photo tagging. ?
Rather than a seperate datalogger and having to remember to take it with me, having a watch that does it would be easier.

Be interested to see what battery life is like too._________________Navigon 8450 LIVE

Are these aimed at sports people, or can they be used for day to day datalogging for say Photo tagging. ?
Rather than a seperate datalogger and having to remember to take it with me, having a watch that does it would be easier.

Be interested to see what battery life is like too.

The Garmin is aimed at sports usage primarily, the GlobalSat less so.

Both could be used for datalogging, the Globalsat exports very easily to common file formats. Battery life is very good, I had the GlobalSat loohing an entire trip to Amsterdam and back plus out and about with TomTom and it still had power after 15hrs solid use. I have yet to measure the 405's battery._________________Darren Griffin - Editor

I just got a 405, previously had the older 310 and I have to say that this far more of a sports centric device than the previous forerunner 301. This suits me as I have a handheld too but my advice would be that this is a mutli-purpose device. This is an extremely neat, compact and accurate sports GPS.

I bought one from there the week they were released in the UK (which was about 6 months ago), and they still shipped it out same day. You also get their complimentary advice book for runners on how to train with a speed and distance heart-rate monitor.

I'm surprised that the original post doesn't mention the Garmin's 2ndary unique selling point. The UI is mainly driven by a touch bezel, which acts like a fairly basic version of the touch-wheel thing you get on the iPod. It is quite effective.

You don't get MapSource included with the watch, but if you have it already, you can use it in conjunction with the watch to send waypoints. TBH I have only used it to monitor my pace, speed, distance and heart-rate while running, and for logging my training sessions. I have put a waypoint on it (with MapSource) but I haven't yet tried to navigate to it.

The logging records your location roughly once every 3 seconds, so you get a detailed track record. The training centre software that comes with the watch (well, download it actually, but its included in the price) lets you view the track log on the Garmin base map, which isn't very detailed, or if you have a CityNavigatorNT map installed you can choose that instead. You can also export it directly to Google Earth, which is a lot of fun!

I'm pleased with mine, but I did buy it for sport and I only wear it when I'm running. You can definitely 'bookmark' your current location though, I did it when I was running whilst on holiday, in case I couldn't find the hotel, but I didn't need to use it.

BTW Garmin claim it will run up to 8 hours with GPS on, and I would agree with their estimate.